Potions in Minecraft
A complete encyclopedia of potion brewing: all recipes, ingredients and effects.
Potions are some of the most powerful items in Minecraft. They let you heal in combat, run faster, breathe underwater, see in the dark and even turn invisible. Brewing is built around the brewing stand, which turns ingredients into bottles of potions with different effects.
The history of potions in Minecraft goes back to version 1.0 (2011), when Mojang introduced the brewing stand and the first potions. Since then the system has been expanded many times: splash potions (1.0) and lingering potions (1.9) were added, along with new effects such as Slow Falling (1.13) and Turtle Master (1.13). In recent versions (1.21+) there are more than 15 different potions, and each of them can be modified, strengthened and thrown at other creatures.
Brewing is an important skill in Survival mode, especially before boss fights (Ender Dragon, Wither) and when exploring the Nether and underwater structures. On this page you will find a list of all potions, their ingredients and effects. Click a specific potion to see a detailed step-by-step brewing guide.
Brewing basics
To brew potions you need a brewing stand, which you craft from 1 Blaze Rod and 3 cobblestone. The stand runs on Blaze Powder as fuel: one fuel item is enough for 20 brewing operations.
Brewing Stand
The main tool for making potions. It holds up to 3 bottles at once. Recipe: 1 Blaze Rod + 3 Cobblestone.
Water Bottle
The base of every potion. Craft glass bottles from 3 blocks of glass, then fill one with water by using it on a water source or a cauldron.
Nether Wart
The first ingredient in almost every recipe. Adding it to a water bottle makes an Awkward Potion, the base for most potions.
Blaze Powder
Fuel for the brewing stand. You get it from Blaze Rods (1 rod = 2 powder). One fuel item = 20 brewing cycles.
Positive potions
10 potionsPositive potions give the player beneficial status effects, from more damage and speed to fire resistance and underwater breathing. They are the core of preparing for boss fights and exploring tough biomes.
Potion of Strength
Potion of Swiftness
(Speed)Potion of Healing
(Instant Health)Potion of Regeneration
Potion of Invisibility
Potion of Water Breathing
Potion of Fire Resistance
Potion of Night Vision
Potion of Leaping
(Jump Boost)Potion of Slowness
Other potions
6 potionsBesides the main positive potions, Minecraft also offers potions of slow falling and the turtle master, as well as negative potions: poison, weakness, slowness and harming. Negative potions are especially useful as splash potions in PvP and in fights against mobs.
Potion of Slow Falling
Potion of the Turtle Master
Potion of Poison
Potion of Weakness
Potion of Slowness
Potion of Harming
(Instant Damage)Potion modifiers
You can modify any potion with four special ingredients, changing its strength, its duration or the way it is applied.
Glowstone Dust
Strengthens the effect (level II)
Increases the strength of the potion's effect but shortens its duration. For example, Potion of Strength I (3:00) becomes Potion of Strength II (1:30).
Redstone Dust
Extends the duration
Extends the effect from 3:00 to 8:00 minutes (for most potions). It cannot be combined with Glowstone Dust.
Gunpowder
Splash Potion (thrown)
Turns a potion into a throwable bottle. The effect applies to all creatures within 4 blocks of the impact.
Dragon's Breath
Lingering Potion (cloud)
Turns a splash potion into one that leaves a cloud of the effect on the ground. Needed to make tipped arrows.
Tips and strategies
Boss preparation
Before fighting the Ender Dragon, bring Potions of Healing II, Regeneration, Slow Falling and Strength II. Before the Wither, add a Potion of Fire Resistance and golden apples.
Nether exploration
A Potion of Fire Resistance is a must-have in the Nether: it protects you from lava and fire. Bring at least 2-3 for a longer trip.
Underwater exploration
Potions of Water Breathing and Night Vision are an ideal combo for ocean monuments and ocean ruins. Add a Potion of Swiftness for better mobility.
Brewing automation
You can automate brewing with hoppers. A hopper from above feeds in the ingredients, one from the side supplies the fuel (Blaze Powder), and a hopper below collects the finished potions.
Tipped arrows
Surround one lingering potion with 8 arrows in a crafting table to make tipped arrows: arrows that apply the potion's effect on hit.
Curing zombie villagers
A splash potion of Weakness plus a golden apple cures a zombie villager, turning it back into a normal villager with trade discounts.
Special and rare potions
Potion of Luck
A rare potion that is not available in normal gameplay. It improves your chances of better loot from chests and fishing. You can only get it with commands or in Creative mode.
Potion of Freezing
New in the Java 26.4 snapshots. You brew it from an Ice Ball dropped by frostbites, and the Freezing effect slows the target and deals cold damage to it.
Summary
Total: 16 potions in the encyclopedia